Venezuelan Billionaire Takes on Elon Musk in Space-Based Internet Battle

**Venezuelan Entrepreneur Challenges Elon Musk's Starlink Dominance** The global satellite internet market is heating up. Venezuelan entrepreneur Abel Avellan is taking on tech giant Elon Musk with his ambitious project, AST SpaceMobile. Avellan's company aims to deliver satellite internet directly to mobile phones, promising global coverage with a constellation of only 90 satellites. This contrasts sharply with Starlink, which utilizes thousands of satellites for its service. SpaceX, Musk's company, has already responded by filing a lawsuit against AST SpaceMobile with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The lawsuit cites concerns over various regulatory issues, including spectrum access, space debris, and obstruction of astronomical observations. While SpaceX views AST SpaceMobile as a threat, Avellan sees his project as a way to democratize internet access, particularly in developing countries with limited or nonexistent terrestrial infrastructure. "The great opportunity isn't in offering connectivity to Europeans or North Americans," Avellan explains in the video, "but in bringing internet to the more than 2.6 billion people, especially in developing countries, who struggle to connect and can't afford Starlink." Avellan's entrepreneurial track record adds weight to his claims. He's previously founded and sold two successful companies, demonstrating his business acumen. The colossal size of AST SpaceMobile's antennas, as highlighted by Forbes, underscores the scale of Avellan's vision. The outcome of the FCC lawsuit will be crucial in determining the future of AST SpaceMobile and its potential to disrupt the satellite internet landscape. Regardless of the legal battle, Avellan's challenge to Musk represents a significant technological innovation and a bold step towards bridging the digital divide.